Field notes
Specimen surfaced late in the animal-mascot cycle, well after dogs, cats, and an unlisted number of inu variants claimed the flat-color-background aesthetic. This one picked blue. Lab notes show no prior aquatic entries in the sample set, which the specimen treats as a technicality.
Behaviourally flightless, which researchers consider thematically on-brand. Observed waddling, standing in loose formation, and expressing total indifference to the dogs and cats that got there first. No relationship to any existing penguin franchise, real, fictional, or already trending, has been found.
Classified as an original mascot under some pressure to simply be a copy of something more famous. Subject declined. Current working theory: arriving fourth in a four-animal race is fine if the ice is colder than everyone else's loyalty.